Sunday, June 15, 2014

Fathers Day Dirt Cake

I asked Eddie, AKA, the Best Dad in the World, what treat he would like for me to make him on fathers day.  His response was, "something with Oreos.  Yum, Oreos.  So I immediately took to pinterest to find something totally unique and mouth watering, yet not too difficult to prepare with little hands grabbing at me all the while.

I FOUND IT!

This cake hails from the delicious blog of Sweet Charlie and is absolutely AMAZING!

You know that yummy "dirt" pudding?  You know, the chocolate pudding with the bits of Oreo crumbs?  Yeah, the one where they stick the gummy worm in the top, thus allying it "Dirt".  Yeah, that cup- o - goodness is the basis of this cake.  I guess you could call this the adults version of Dirt.  Now we take that dirt idea and add Devils food cake, home made cream cheese frosting and OREO'S!!

This treat received rave reviews from the crew of sugar fiends  kiddos.  "Mom, this isn't good, its amazing".  "Mom, I don;t like this, I LOVE THIS".  The funny goes on and on and on.

Anyway, if you are looking for a unique bit of yummy, easy to make and crowd pleasing goodness, THIS is the cake for you.

This post is also featured on my Sugar Momma Blog.

Fathers Day

Today is Father's Day and I have to say that I am literally the most lucky wife and mother.  I married a man who is my equal partner in parenting.  He is the daddy of any child's dream.  This guy of mine is the best daddy to his 4 girls and a super hero to his son.

Eddie has been and continues to be a rock in our lives.  He has never missed a a field trip volunteering opportunity.  He attends every game, event, recital and performance.  He grocery shops, school clothes shops, cleans, cooks, does the dishes.  He combs hair and is mastering the french braid.  He wakes the girls to get their day started and puts them to bed at night with individual prayers , hugs and kisses.  He's up at 3 AM changing diapers and feeding babies.  He taxies the kids to all of their events.  Volunteers in class, both church and school.  He has been with me during every delivery, doctor visit, dental appointment and teacher conference.

I have been spoiled beyond my wildest dreams.  This is our normal.  This is our every day.  This is the way we have been able to raise our children.  Hand in hand, side by side.  We both take full responsibility for the wellbeing of our family, our children.  I am the mom and he is the dad, but there is no line of responsibility.  We are in this together.  I love him and am so thankful for this man in my life.


Thursday, June 5, 2014

White Chicken Chili. AMAZING

I have to write this recipe down on my blog so that I can have it saved forever.  I had it up on my refrigerator, but my kids love playing with the magnets and I was just afraid that I would lose it.  So now anyone who stumbles upon my blog can have it too.  It is literally to DIE for.  Man, I just sounded like my mom.  Oh well.  Its worth it.

Here it is, April Daw's White Chicken Chili.  Thank you April!!!

2 Cans Costco Chicken.  This makes it easy, you can use 4 chicken breasts if you want to.
1 Medium Onion, chopped and sauteed in coconut oil. (I love my chopper.  Thanks mom)
5 Cups organic chicken broth.  (I now buy this stuff in bulk.  Makes everything yummy)
2-15 OZ cans White beans, drained and rinsed. (I use cannelloni beans)
2 teaspoons garlic powder
4 teaspoons cumin powder
1 drop doTERRA Oregano Oil. (you can get it here) If you dont have this amazing oil, use 2 teaspoons oregano.  Trust me, the oil is better, and has unbelievable health benefits.
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
24 OZ Sour Cream
2 Cups Monterey Jack Cheese
1 cup white quinoa

Put all of the ingredients in the crockpot except the sour cream and the cheese and cook for 3-4 hours.  Half hour before serving, pull the chicken breasts out and cut in bite sized chunks.  You can skip this step if you used the COSTCO chicken.  Add the sour cream and the cheese.

Oh enjoy this crockpot full of easy, delicious goodness.  My kids love it and ask for it.  DELISH!!!!!

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Please Don't use the word Skinny.

I have a confession, I don't care about weight!  There, I said it.  I DO NOT CARE ABOUT WEIGHT.  I don't care that I have weight to lose, or that I have lost weight, or that I look skinnier or fatter or heavier or smaller or that I may be shrinking or anything else that would label the image that my children see.

I have 4 beautiful daughters and I am teaching them to love themselves as they are.  I am teaching them that health is the number one factor, and not weight.  Weight is just a number on a scale and nothing more.  That number does not in any way, shape or form, define them.  That number on the scale does not determine their value or their worth.  They a daughters of a Heavenly Father who loves them no matter that number on the scale.  They are more precious then anything else on this earth.  I will not devalue their life and existence by pinning a number on their back and forcing them to think that that number determines their worth in this life.

I have a history of anxiety, depression and guilt when it comes to weight and weight loss.  I have been bombarded with the words, "skinny", "fat", "weight loss", "diets" and many other of the same negative labeling words throughout my life.  I walked around believing that weight was the deciding factor of my worth here on earth.  My idea of happy and sad was literally based on the number on a scale.  My idea of a good day or a bad day was determined by a number going up, down or staying the same.  My idea of what I could and could not do in this life was decide by my size.  WHY?

Why do we focus on thin, fat, heavy, skinny, overweight?
Why would we teach this to our children?

STOP!

It is time to refocus what we are teaching our kids about health.  Health is not about skinny or fat.  Health is so much more then that.  And so very important.  Yet we are not teaching it to our children.

I have made it my quest to raise confident children without a focus on weight, shape, size or appearance.  They are beautiful because God created them that way.  God created them that way and it is my job to raise them with beautiful thoughts about themselves.  Help them see what he sees.

Phanotms

Phantom Facebook Friends don't care much for anything you say or do and they never comment or message or post unless it is meant to somehow make you feel small.  Yeah, I don't love PFF.  Oh well.  Be kind, Judge Less and Love More.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Not a fan of the move.

I really don't like anything about North Salt Lake.  It smells bad, the air is horrible, it is an unfriendly area and I just miss my home in Orem.  Worst decision ever to move.  Oh well, only 6 more months here.

Dr. Seuss Said.......

I will be the first to say that I am not at all the "silent" type.  Nor am I willing to "bite my tongue" on issues that I feel strongly about.  And I will never "let it slide" when someone crosses the line.  This frightens people.  They don't understand it because its not something they accept as normal.  but it is my normal.  I don't ever want to be silenced.  Standing up for myself, my beliefs and my values have always been part of my life.  So why should standing up period be and less "noble"?  Oh because it might offend someone?  Or maybe they are tired of reading  hearing it?  Whatever it may be, it doesn't matter.  This is me.  I deal with my life every single day and I have done a pretty good job thus far and will continue to do what I do best.  Speak up.  I will never allow myself to be hushed.  It is not in my nature.